EAST ASIA OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 November 1943, Page 5

EAST ASIA OFFENSIVE

CLOSER CO-OPERATION

USE OF BURMA ROAD ' LONDON, Nov. 17. “From now on there is likely to be a marked increase in contacts between Delhi and Chungking,” says a correspondent of “The Times” at General Headquarters in India. “One of the first achievements of the new South-east Asia Command has been the reinforcement of operational links with China. These are now undoubtedly closer than at any time since the outbreak of the war. Lord Mountbatten’s visit to Marshal Chiang Kaishek made a deep impression, not only on the Marshal’s entourage but also among the Americans. Almost overnight a certain suspicion of Britain’s attitude to the war in the Far East has been more or less dispelled. Lord Mountbatten has established excellent relations with the American generals, with whom he lives in the same house. The appointment General Stilwell will hold has not yet been announced, but it is common knowledge that he will be very near Lord Mountbatten. General de Wiart, who has been in Delhi for consultations, will go to Chungking,' where it is expected that his personality will appeal to the Chinese. Probably, a Chinese mission will be attached to Lord Mountbatten’s headquarters. , Thus, there is the most encouraging prospect of full co-operation between the two commands in planning the future offensive. “Ideas about the significance of the Burma Road are beginning to change. Most political thought maintains that this link with the outside world must be restored. Also, a majority possibly see the Burma Road, in spite of the comparatively small tonnage it carried, as a channel whereby a stream of arms and consumer goods might flow to China; but there is a small group of people who appparently see the problem in terms of amphibious operations. This school says: ‘Let us get back to the plains. Give us a port into which ships can come, with a river behind.’ One school of thought seems to look at the war against Japan in terms of equipping vast armies in China and more or less marching to Tokio. Another sees it as a series of amphibious operations along the coasts, culminating in great naval actions to crush Japanese sea power. Probably, the answer lies in a combination of the two; but the difficulties of both methods will be enormous, until over-whelming strength can be brought into action.” JAPANESE~SUCCESSES. (Rec. 10.30) CHUNGKING, Nov. 17. The Japanese have captured Lishien. 'The Chinese garrison fought bravely against overwhelming odds, both, inside and outside the city, inflicting heavy losses, says the Associated Press. The Japanese strongly reinforced their troops in the- vicinity of Ichang and have driven 80 miles southward. Many casualties were suffered on both sides. The Chinese successfully attacked Japanese strongholds northwest of Hankow, cutting enemy communications at several points. General Stilwell’s communique reports that. Liberators bombed shipping at Kowloon Docks yesterday, scoring many hits. Mitchells bombed the shipping at Port Bayard, Kwangchowan Peninsula.